Bismarck weekly tribune., 1887-01-14
The Territory's Birth and Growth
Now Nearly Twenty-six
Years Old.
The Governors Uncle Sam Has Given
Us, and the Delegates We
Have Elected. '.
Some Of the Old Timers Whose
Names are on the Legis.
lative Rolls. -, W.
Historical.

..s s,. -
Shortly after the acquisition of Louisi-
ana territory by the United States, when
President Jefferson's explorers, Lewis and
Clarke, were on their way to found the
American claim to the Oregon country,
the region now known as Dakota was en-
tered by American fur traders and Amerl-
can soldiers. The first trading station was
old Ft Clark, located below the mouth of
Knife river, and built in 1903, and trading
and military stations were subsequently es-
tablished at numerous points along the
principal rivers. 1t was not until 1851,
however, that the Indian title to any part
of the territory was extinguished, and as
late as 1862 the Indians successfully re-
sisted the incoming of the whites.
THE TERRITORY.
On the I'd of March, 1861, President
Buchanan signed the act of congress pro-
viding government for Dakota and detin-
ing the boundaries of the territory. Short
ly afterward President Lincoln appointed
the first officers of the territory. The set
tiers in the Sioux valley had organized a
! provisional government in 1858, and had
petitioned and memorialized congress for
territorial government, but the organiza-
ton was finally due to movement initi-
| ated by convention at ankton in Decem-
Der. 1860. William Jayne, of Pennsylvania,
the first governor OF the territory. assumed
his Office at Yankton in May, 1851. The
first census, taken under direction of Gov
ernOr Jayne, showed white population in
1851 OF only 1,775, of which 1,155 were cred
lted TO the southern census districts and $50
10 the Red River country of northern Da-
| kota. The first election of delegate to con
gress, held in September, 1861, called out
only 5S5 voters. Captain John s. Todd was
elected delegate by 397 votes.
ITS GROWTH.
The growth of population, slow at first,
is illustrated by the increase of votes at
successive elections. In 1861 the votes
numbered 5S5; in 1870, 1927; in 1880, 2S,474;
in 1882, 47,1S5; in 1884, s6,927; in 1886, 1O4,-
811. By the census of 1870 the total popu-
lation was 14,lS2; in 1880, 1876, ,1SO; in 1885,
4l5,6l0. The present population is esti-
mated at exceeding 10000.
from Sioux City to Yankton-begun in 1870
and completed in 1873. Atthe present time
the railway mileage in Dakota is $500.
| GOVERNORS AND DELEGATES.
| The governors of the territory have been,
successfully, as follows:
William Jayne. 1S61-63.
Newton EdmundS, 1863-'66.
| A. j. Faulk, 1S66-'69
| John A. Burbank, 1S69-'74.
John l.. Pennington, 1874-'78.
William A. Howard, $3.50.
n. G. Ordway, 18SO-'S4.
Gilbert A. Pierce. 18S+'87.
Louis K. Church, 1887.
The delegates to congress have been, sue
cessively as follows:
John b. s. Todd, 1S62-64.
| w. A. Burleigh, 1S65-'69.
5. L. Sphinx, 1S70-'71.
NJ. K. Armstrong, 1872'74.
j. z. kidder, 1875-'79
| G. G. Bennett, 1SS0-'S1.
! K. f. Pettigrew, 18S2-'83.
John b. Raymond, l8S4'85.
| y. S. Clifford 1S8b-present incumbent.
The first legislature was organized at
Yankton in March, 1852. The presiding
officers of the TWO houses were J. H. ShO-
Der, president of the council, and George NJ.
Pinney, speaker of the house.
| The session of the legislature which be-
gins to-day is the sixteenth in the history
OF Dakota and the second held at Bis
marck. The list Of members of all the leg
islatures, which was published by the
TRIBUNE two years ago, shows that but
| faW Of